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Donald Trump attacks Merz: “He should fix his broken country”
In Washington, Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, declaring that he “should fix his broken country.” This was triggered by Merz’s public criticism of the US approach to the Iran nuclear deal and of Trump himself. With this move, Merz has brought a highly sensitive conflict into the public arena,…
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Trump announces higher tariffs on cars from the EU – Germany particularly affected
Experts say that the additional import tariffs on cars and trucks from the EU announced by US President Donald Trump will hit Germany particularly hard. The planned increase to 25 percent can be interpreted as “the beginning of an economic war against Germany,” declared automotive expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer on Saturday. The German Association of the…
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Price wars in the retail sector are driving dairy farms to the brink of ruin
In Baden-Württemberg, the economic situation for many dairy farms will worsen at the end of April 2026. The state farmers’ association sees the farms in a precarious position. Diesel, fertilizer, and other operating costs have risen significantly, while retailers are lowering the price they pay for milk. The war in Iran is exacerbating these cost…
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Power struggle in the government – the oath of office obviously counts for less than maintaining one’s own power
In Berlin, the power struggle within the federal government is intensifying, while key decisions remain stalled and partisan interests dictate the course of action. The triggers are deep conflicts over the budget, the economy, and energy policy; however, the decisive risk factor lies in a government that politically prioritizes its own hold on power over…
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Whale Timmy in the spotlight of public broadcasting – explosive government crisis overshadowed by an animal story
Since the beginning of March 2026, the reporting on the Baltic whale Timmy has dominated many news formats. A single sighting has become an emotionally charged, ongoing story featuring strandings, rescue images, and constant follow-up. At the same time, political conflicts surrounding Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the CDU, the SPD, healthcare costs, new taxes, and the…
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China’s nuclear power offensive: Construction of 50 reactors simultaneously possible
China’s nuclear power offensive is reaching a new dimension. The China Nuclear Energy Association announced on April 21, 2026, that the country has the capacity to build up to 50 reactors simultaneously. Beijing is thus massively accelerating the expansion of its nuclear power capacity. The goal is to reduce CO₂ emissions and decrease dependence on…
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Imbalance in the power grid: E.on CEO supports Reiche’s new rules for wind and solar power
Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche has submitted new energy legislation for inter-ministerial review because an increasing number of wind and solar power plants are being built in congested grid areas. E.on CEO Leonhard Birnbaum backed the grid package at the company’s annual general meeting. He sees an imbalance because redispatch, curtailment, and compensation measures will…
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Energy crisis intensifies – EU cuts Russian LNG and increases supply risk
Since April 25, the European Union has been gradually phasing out Russian LNG from its gas market, even though the energy crisis is already straining supplies. Russian liquefied natural gas is to be completely phased out by the beginning of 2027. This affects approximately 20 billion cubic meters of gas. At the same time, geopolitical…
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Stellantis is considering selling its European plants – Chinese potential buyers are already on site
Stellantis is preparing a possible restructuring of its European plants because its factories in France, Italy, Spain, and Germany are operating significantly below capacity. The planned sale or division of individual sites will thus affect key industrial regions. The triggers are weak car demand, delayed electric vehicle plans, and high costs. Delegations from Chinese manufacturers…
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Two automotive suppliers on the brink of collapse in one day – over 1,000 jobs at Bohai and Schlote are at risk
In Harzgerode, Wernigerode, Sömmerda, and Brandenburg, two insolvent automotive suppliers are facing operational collapse. On April 28th, it was announced that crucial rescue attempts for the Bohai Trimet Group and the Schlote Group could fail. Major clients are withdrawing orders, while takeover talks have so far yielded no solution. This puts more than 1,000 direct…
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Change of course: Majority of citizens now consider the nuclear phase-out to be wrong
A new representative survey in Berlin reveals how far removed energy policy has become from the public mood. 53 percent of respondents believe the shutdown of Germany’s last nuclear power plants was a mistake, while only 40 percent support it. The debate was triggered by high electricity prices, doubts about security of supply, and the…
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Long-distance bus provider suspends scheduled services – over 300 cities affected
BlaBlaCar is discontinuing its national and international long-distance bus services. The company announced its withdrawal on April 23, 2026. Connections to more than 300 European cities are affected. BlaBlaCar cites fierce competition and sharply rising costs as the reasons for the closure. These costs primarily include personnel, bureaucracy, and the energy-intensive operation of the buses.…
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VW plans to reduce production by one million vehicles in Europe
In Wolfsburg, Volkswagen is preparing a massive cutback: Production in Europe is to be reduced by around one million vehicles per year. VW CEO Oliver Blume justifies the move with weak demand, high costs, and increasing pressure from Chinese competitors. The sluggish sales of electric cars are particularly exacerbating the situation. Several plants, thousands of…
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Bentley Kiev ranks third in dealer rankings: Luxury market sends explosive signal in the war
In March 2026, a luxury dealer in Kyiv garnered international attention when Bentley Kyiv achieved third place in the 2025 European Scorecard Awards. The award is based on the manufacturer’s internal dealer ranking, which assessed several key performance indicators, including sales, profitability, service retention, and customer experience. However, the context remains extraordinary. Ukraine continues to…
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Shipping poised for nuclear comeback: SMR reactors to displace heavy fuel oil on the high seas
In Monaco and Florida, Scorpio Tankers and Ampera launched a collaboration in early April 2026 to develop and market small SMR reactors for shipping. This initiative was driven by rising heavy fuel oil costs, stricter CO₂ regulations, and the challenge of finding alternative energy sources for large ships on long voyages. The systems are designed…